The Emotional Connection of Street Photography | Armaan Ahmed | TEDxDayton

Everyone today takes photographs with their smartphone. What makes a photographer different? Armaan Ahmed explains how a photographer communicates his vision and story to the viewer.
Armaan Ahmed is a 10th grader at The Miami Valley School in Dayton. He plays three instruments: cello for the Springfield Youth Chamber Orchestra, saxophone for the Miami Valley Jazz Band, and piano. He regularly volunteers at the Second Harvest Food Bank, the Springfield Soup Kitchen, and the Rocking Horse Community Health Center in Springfield. He loves to make Jeni’s inspired ice cream, play tennis, and travel
to other countries with his family. Armaan’s main passion is photography. He has been taking photographs since age six. This past summer, he attended a National Geographic
Photography Student Expedition at Yellowstone National Park.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx

[@ahmedb2559]

Thank you

[@stephenthenachohunter405]

Binge watching TED today and came across this "average book report". No doubt he has a passion and may develop an eye for street photography, but he is not there yet; not by a mile. To put him in this light at a TED is insane. I started in a dark room at age 8 and take some amazing photos but I'm still not a photographer, it's only a passion. A photographer is one who makes a living with his/her craft! Keep at it kid.

[@kokokuvat5310]

No, you're defining a 'professional photographer', not a 'photographer'. Making a living at your craft (or art) is unrelated. Van Gogh never sold any paintings. I think he can be considered a painter.

[@robinbhairam7508]

I’ve read the comments on here and have to say I agree … a holiday snaps show and tell … I so wanted him to succeed so out of curiosity (and fairness), 7 years on, I have just checked out his website and instagram … sadly lots of glamorous locations … with lots more ‘snaps’. I just don’t feel an emotional connection between him and his subjects nor do I get a sense of story. We’re all prone to take ‘cliched’ shots but we don’t all profess to have an ‘innate emotional’ connection with our subjects or environment … be careful what you claim young man … photography is a fierce industry with no where to hide … you’ll very soon get caught out! i.e. … this video and your social media footprint!

[@hyperclearphoto6573]

These are street portraits taken by a kid with rich parents abroad street photos shouldn't need explanation and should make cause for emotion or thought

[@vardhannaik8652]

No talks about his talent. only talks about his vacations and travels .

[@kokokuvat5310]

Give him time. He's very young.

[@jose2bee2]

Cause he has no talent, just drive and motivation. Sounds like he really enjoys meeting people. He’ll need time to develop his true skills.

[@photomorti]

Hmm no sorry his photography is not impressive at all

[@jaynathwani8563]

He: Street photography is not about streets, it's about vacations sponsored by your rich dad.

[@luthfyprayoga2901]

Duh. Just let the photo speaks for itself. Explaining your photos is like explaining your magic trick.

[@jose2bee2]

Pretty images!! Good stories. It’ll take a long time to develop his style and become a deeper empathized photographer.

[@susanvrooman4601]

Well done, Armaan!! Très bien fait!!

[@cjedwards5941]

I would have been more impressed if you had gotten stories from people around where you live. Must be nice to be able to go to Japan and Madrid. Family vacation photos taken with a fancy camera aren't street bud. The whole presentation felt like a show an tell of look where I have been. Get a simple 35mm camera and study the masters. Then if your parents will let you, go downtown where you live and talk to people on the street. Learn about and photograph them. Then you might have some street cred to give a presentation on. “To me, photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ORDINARY place… I’ve found it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” -Elliott Erwitt

[@robertbutts9835]

I feel street photography has no connection with it's subject it's a title that has every body running around the city snapping photos. I saw a so called street photographer on Instagram he snapped a shot of 2 women who seemed upset is that what it is .? Once I realized it's about substance I became a better photographer and not a street photographer.

[@martawojcik536]

A wonderful TEDx talk, Armaan! Your photography is exquisite.

[@nirmalharindran8766]

I do not mind if he's rich or poor or someone sponsored his travel. Idea is to emphasize on photography and photos . Doesn't matter how he got there and how old he is. But having said that, the photos are really not upto the mark for a discussion.

[@gregderozier3846]

Why do we listen to this kid?

[@GLL-Ratnik]

a rich kid... no more no less art no metter if your family support all your ideas... street as i see it is street from and to not a rich kid travelling with his family

[@armaanahmed384]

Thanks homie!

[@OPSSIFARTED]

Gian Luca Lo Medico Ahhh very nice man. I bet you could take a better photo? Kids don’t choose their own financial situation, and what does it matter! He is passionate and his photos are so wonderfully empathetic. P.S Reading your comment gave me an aneurysm, learn to write a sentence.

[@billthornhill8408]

You sound bitter. The kid has passion and enthusiasm and that’s what matters. Good for him.

[@46weegee]

Armaan has some rudimentary photo skills. I am sure they can be honed with practice. I would encourage Armaan to take courses in photography and communications, especially public speaking. Armaan, your images are technically sound; they are also mind numbingly trite, and your presence as a speaker does little to help flesh out any kind of story. What is presented here is wonderful fodder for a blog post - nothing more - certainly not a TED Talk. I'm sorry but there is just not enough "there" there - not yet! My fear is that you are the kind of kid who will attend a string of high-end photography workshops and retreats, perhaps get a photojournalism degree, then wonder why you are not trading your MFA portfolio for a Pulitzer instead of for an entry level stringer's position for a small publication snapping grip-and-grins at the local town council meeting. There is a difference between setting a scene and providing insightful context that creates a connection among the photographer, the subject, and the viewer. Make images from the town council meeting that cause people to want to know what is happening in those pictures. Learn how to do that, and also how to present yourself with a greater degree of elan and confidence, and I am certain that your passion and good fortune will help you find your way into the state of grace necessary to succeed at the highest levels. Good luck, Armaan. I hope you do well!

[@suversion68]

jajajajajaja estas fotos no son streetphotos, son snapshots aburridas y anodinas!

[@youarekidding]

I resent that statement about selfies!!! CHILD, there is no such thing as high and low art.

[@armaanahmed384]

Second

[@raudi.audirs]

FIRST